Flint will try new approach to stop metal thieves

Beginning in December, scrap metal yards in Flint will have to see a city issued permit before they can buy scrap metal.

Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio

The city of Flint will soon launch a new crackdown on illegal metal scrappers.

Like many Michigan cities, Flint has been plagued by thieves illegally stripping metal from homes and other sources, and trying to sell the metal to scrap dealers.

Beginning in December, Flint will require people trying to sell scrap metal to get a permit from the city.

“The ultimate objective would be that all communities in Genesee County that have scrap metal yards would be part of the same system,” says Peter Bade, Flint’s city attorney, “Obviously, if someone can simply cross jurisdictional lines and sell illegal scrap in a neighboring community it undermines our efforts to stop this problem.”

One unusual part of Flint’s ordinance is that it bans the sale of scrap aluminum in the city.

The new scrap metal permits will be required beginning December first.